Baling-press.



No. 798,782. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. W. H. GRAY.

BALING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904.

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67105.5 C/Iap/n. wk) I M No. 798,782. PATENTED SEPT. 5. 1905. W. H. GRAY.

BALING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904 3SHEBTS-SHET 2.

PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

W. H. GRAY.

BALING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2B, 1904.

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UNITED STATES ILLIAM H. GRAY, OF SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIQINOR TO JUNIOR PATENT @EFTCE.

BAtING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed Au ust 29, 1904. Serial No. 222,553.

To It It'll/(Till, it Hm/y concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, .residing at San Leandro, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in BalingPresses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in baling-presses, and is especially applicable to vertically-disposed presses.

It comprises combinations of parts and mechanism and details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my balingpress. Fig. 2 is a plan view of sweep and eccentric chain-wheel. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of press. Fig. i is a side elevation of same, showing door open and follower up. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of door-locking bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of retaining lever and spring. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of guide-block and direction chain-wheel. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of latch for sweep. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of inside of press, showing knife and retaining-latches. Fig. 10 is a detail showing the locking mechanism for the door 23. Figs. 11 and 12 show the stopblocks 8 and adjunctive features.

The press may be made of any suitable material. I preferably make it of heavy lumber of sutiicient strength to resist the pressure which may be necessary to form a bale. It consists of a pressing-chamber A, within which the follower moves. This chamber extends upwardly from the bottom, and the baling-chamber B is located above the pressing-chamber, and in this chamber the material is finally compressed to form the bale. The follower-2 is adapted to move vertically from the bottom to the top of the pressing-chamber, and material to be pressed is introduced into the lower part of the press through a suitable door, to be hereinafter described, and while the follower is at the bot tom. When a sufficient charge of material has been thus introduced upon the follower, the door is closed, and by means of the power mechanism the follower is raised, and the charge is compressed into the upper part or bale-chamber, where the charge is retained by spring-pressed latches projecting through the sides into the interior of the press, these latches yielding to allow the compressed ma.-

terial to pass above them as it is carried up by the follower and being forced back into position again after the material has passed, so that when the follower is again depressed for a new charge the portion already in the bale-chamber will be retained there. A suflicient number of charges of material are thus successively compressed into the baling-chamber, and when a bale of the desired weight has been formed it is tied by cords or wires passed through slots or channels in the top of the bale-chamber and transversely across the follower in the usual manner. After the bale has been thus secured a door opening out from the bale-chamber is released and the bale is delivered upon a suitable platform, from which it may be easily loaded into a wagon or car or otherwise disposed of.

The follower Q has a heavy iron or steel bar extending across the bottom, the ends projecting out through vertical slots or channels in the ends of the press, and the ends of this follower-bar are connected with the ends of lever-arms 4C. These lever-arms are preferably. made of iron and suitably trussed for strength, and they are fulcrumed near the center to the outer ends of other lever-arms 5, and these arms 5 are in turn fulcrumed to the base-timbers of the press. Chains 6 are connected with the outer ends of the leverarms 4, and these chains extend inwardly beneath the lower part of the press, passing over direction-pulleys T and leading from these pulleys outwardly in line from the side of the press to a distant power apparatus, by which the chains are wound up to actuate the followers. At the points where the chains 6 pass through the ends of the press to the direction-pulleys I have lixed heavy iron or steel plates 3. These plates have erossslots made through them of such dimensions that the links of the chains, which stand at right angles with each other, will pass freely through these slots and be guided thereby, thus preventing too much lateral motion and wear of parts. \Vhen the follower is at the bottom in position to receive a charge, the

lower ends of the lever-arms & are extended outwardly in each direction from the ends of the press, and the fulcrumed arms 5 are also extended. The inner ends of the lever-arms 4. are arrested upon hollow steel blocks 8,

Figs. 11 and 12, which are bolted upon the I ends of the press, so that these blocks extend across the slot in which the follower-bar travels, and when the follower has been depressed so that lever-arms 4 rest upon these blocks the outer ends of the arms 4 will be sufliciently lower than the follower and lower than their fulcrum to the arms 5, so that when the pull upon the chain takes place there will be sufficent leverage to start the upward movement of the follower, and as this upward movement proceeds the first portion of the movement will be measurably rapid; but as the levers 4 and 5 approach each other the movement will be more slow and the power greatly increased.

The wheel 9, around which the chain 6 is wound, is made eccentric to its supporting axle or spindle, and the chain is first wound around the outer and larger sweep of the cocentric, so that in conjunction with the rapid movement of the extended levers the follower is moved up most rapidly from its lowest position. viously described, to form a sort of toggle the smaller portion of the eccentric arrives beneath the chain and adds to the power of the levers at the instant of final compression of the charge.

In order to compensate for wear by the movement caused by the continual sliding of the follower-bars in the slots at the ends of the press, I have shown these slots as having angle-iron lining-bars 10, between which the follower-bar slides. These angle-iron guides are secured by bolts and may be adjusted from time to time as wear of parts may make it necessary.

The latches 11, by which the successive charges of material are retained in the balechamber, are in the form of angular or bellcrank levers pivoted upon a common fulcrum rod or shaft 12, which may extend through the material forming the sides of the press, and the inner arms of these levers extend substantially horizontal into the chamber from each side. The outer arms are upturned and may have a substantially flat plate or face, as at 13, which contacts against the outside of the press above the fulcrum-rod 12, so that any weight of material resting upon the arms 11 will be held by reason of the pressure of the arms or plates 13 against the side of the press. When the charge is moved upward, these retainers are tilted so that the inner ends of the arms are folded into slots or channels in the press-body, so as to allow the charge to pass smoothly. They are immediately extended as soonas the charge has passed by the action of a leaf-spring 14, which is suitably fixed to an outside timber of the press, as shown.

is here shown as being fixed, and from the ends of the spring are hooks or links 15, extending downward and engaging a bent yoke 16, the arms of which, bentdown at either side, may be pivoted upon the rod 12 or in other Then as the levers approach, as pre-,

The central portion of the spring convenient manner. The transverse portion of the yoke 16 being thus drawn upwardly by the action of the spring 14 will press against the exterior arms of the retainers, and thus hold them all in their normal position, in which the inner ends 11 project into the press, as previously described. The spring yields to allow any or all of the retainers to be folded back, and the single spring acts upon all the retainers to hold them in their normal position. There being a set of retainers upon each side of the press, it will be understood that two of these spring attachments will also be employed to hold them in place.

The upper part of the press is held together against the outward pressure and may be adjusted from time to time in case of any shrinkage or opening of joints by means of screw-rods l7,extending transversely through the timbers from opposite sides and having their inner screw-threaded ends turnable in a heavy nut 18, fixed in a socket or chamber formed in the press-frame intermediate between the sides, as shown. The outer ends of the rods 17 have formed upon them or carry the plates 19, which serve as pivots for the arms 20, in the outer ends of which the locking-eccentrics 21 are journaled. These eccentrics 21 are cylindrical in form, having their pivot-pins eccentric to the main body.

A lever-arm 22 is forked so that the fork is pivoted upon the intermediate portion of the eccentrics, which are disposed as follows: The eccentrics being pivoted in the outer ends of the swinging or turnable links 20 and standing vertically with relation to the edge of the upper door 23, it will be seen that they may be swung bodily to one side, so as to allow the door to open and close freely. When the door is closed, these eccentrics are swung inwardly until they engage with the angularlynotched plates 24, when by turning the leverarm 22 the eccentrics will be revolved into the notched plates 24, thus firmly locking the door in its closed position, in which it remains until the bale has been fully compressed. When thus compressed and after it has been tied, by simply revolving the eccentrics in the opposite direction they are disengaged from the locking-plates upon the door, and the door will be thrown open by the elasticity of the contained bale, leaving the bale free to be removed from the chamber.

In order to hold the press strongly together and resist the great pressure which is brought upon it, I have shown it tied together from top to bottom by vertical rods 25, standing substantially in the angles of the press-frame and passing through tie-plates, as at 26.

The upper portion or press-box is reinforced by plates 27 secured to the ends of rods 28, these rods extending horizontally between the end timbers and above the planks, which form the top of the baling-chamber, while the plates 26 rest upon the end of heavy timbers 29, which extend transversely across above the top of the planks of the chamber.

The lower side of the part A or follower chamber is open at one side abovcthe lowest position ofthe follower and hasadoor 30 adapted to close this opening. This door is hinged at the bottom, as shown at 31, and it is movable livered.

' or toggle levers 33 3a, the two being hinged or jointed together, as shown at 35, and the end of the lever 34 is attached to a shaft or support 36, journaled upon a projecting frametimber, as shown, and the end of the lever is pivoted to or connected with the door, as at 37. There being a pair of these levers upon each side, it will be seen that when they approach a straight line they will force the door inward and close it about its hinges. These levers are actuated by a chain or chains 33, having the end connected with the joints and extending inwardly over guidepulleys 39, thence around pulleys 40, upon which they are wound. These pulleys are fixed upon a shaft having a pulley 41 upon the outer end, and around this pulley passes a chain 42', which leads outwardly and passes around a pulley 4K3, which is rotated so as to close the door before the follower commences its upward movement.

at represents spring-pressed latches which engage the upper edge of the door 30 when the latter has been closed. These latches are fixed to a fulcrum-shaft 45, and this shaft has an arm or lever i6 connected by a link at? with a centrally-fulcrumed lever-arm 48, the free end of which extends across the vertical channel within which the follower-bar travels and at a point near the upper end of said channel. A spring 4:9 acts to normally hold the latches 44c in such position that when the door 30 is closed it lifts the latches sufficiently to pass by them. Then they drop against a stop which holds them in line with the door, and thus prevents its falling open. When the follower is moved upwardly and as it reaches the top of its movement and the charge has been compressed into the baling-chamber, the followerbar will contact with the ends of the levers 4:8, thus turning them about their fulcrumpoint and acting through thelin k &T and lever 4.6 will turn the shaft +f5 and lift the latches 4.4., so as to release the door 30 and allow it to fall outwardly. in order to promptly open this door, it is necessary to first move the toggle-levers 33 3&, which are nearly in a straight line when the door is closed, and in order to effect this 1 have shown a shaft 36, to which the lever 34 is fixed, as having an arm 50 fixed to one end and in line with a spring 51, which is suitably fixed to the side 32, as shown at 52. \Vhen the door is closed and the levers 33 3% are approximately in a straight line, the arm 50 will have been turned so as to press against the spring 51, and there will thus be a suflieient tension of the spring to act promptly upon the lever-arm 50, and thus bend the joint 35 between the levers 33 34:, so that they will offer no obstruction to the free opening of the door. In order to insure the door being promptly opened, 1 have shown a spiral spring 53, having its lower end fixed at some suitable point, and the upper end is connected with a bracket 54:, which is fixed upon the back of the door 30 and projects outsufficiently to provide a considerable leverage, so that as soon as the door is released from its latch and the knee-lever joint is bent the spring 53 will act and promptly open the door. In doing this the angle of the levers 33 34:, being thrown outwardly, will pull upon the chains 38 and will thus unwind them from their pulleys 40, and at the same time the chain 42 will be correspondingly wound upon its pulley il in readiness for another operation. The pulley et3 upon which the chain 42. has been wound has mean time been released by the movement of the power attachment, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Thus the opening and closing of the feed-door is made substantially automatic and in unison with the movements of the other connected parts.

The means for applying the power may be derived from any suitable motor, or, as is usually most convenient, by means of a horsepower which I have here shown. The horse or animal through which the power is applied is suitably connected with a sweep 56, the inner end of which is fixed to the top of a vertically-revoluble column 5'7. This column earries the eccentric around which the followerchain is coiled to operate the follower-levers, as previously described, and it is temporarily connected with the sweep by means of a latch 58, so fixed that when the sweep engages it it will turn the column, and with it the chaindrum or eccentric. This latch is held in engagement with the sweep by a bent lever 59, and this holds the latch until such time as a sufficient revolution of the eccentric has been effected to complete the upward movement of the follower and the compression of the charge into the baling-chamber. \Vhen this point is reached, the lever 59 passes over a stationary lug 60, fixed at a suitable point upon the frame, and this acting upon the passing lever 59 disengages it from the latch 58, and the latter being actuated by a spring or by a fixed contact is also disengaged from the sweep, thus allowing the eccentric and column to revolve backward freely by the action of the elastic material which has been compressed by the follower pressing against the follower, and thus acting to start the parts on their return movement. The Weight of the follower will be sufiicient to complete this movement, and if there is a tendency of the follower to move too fast it may be checked by means of a brake 61, which is here shown as carried upon the top of the column 57 and having eccentric or cam-shaped ends which may press upon the plate and act through this upon the eccentric and turns it a sufiicient portion of a circle to wind up the chain 42, and thus through its connections to close the door 30, and the further movement of the sweep acting upon the follower-chain moves the follower to compress the charge. When the sweep is released from the connection by which it Winds the followerchain, and when the door 30 has been released by the movements of the follower as previouly described, the lever-arm 63 will be released from the action of the sweep, so as to allow the chain-pulley 43 to reverse its movement in unison with the opening of the door by the mechanisms previously described.

In order to make the finished bales smooth and symmetrical, it is desirable to cut off any projecting material. This is effected by means of knives 65, fixed in the sides of the press at a point just below the retainers 11, with the edges presented downward, so that as the follower 2 carries the charges up into the balechamber the projecting or straggling ends will be cut ofi.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a baling-press, the combination of a press-box, a follower movable therein, a superposed bale-chamber and intermediate retainers consisting of fulcrumed levers and means for actuating them in unison, and a unitary means connected with the actuating means and normally retaining the levers in position.

2. In a baling-press, the combination of a vertical press-box, a follower, a superposed bale-chamber and intermediate retainers, said retainers consisting of pivoted bell-crank levers each having a horizontal arm extending connected with the actuating means to normally retain the levers in position.

3. In a baling-press, superposed press and bale chambers and a reciprocating follower, bale-retainers consisting of bent levers fulcrumed at the angles with one arm projecting into the chamber, and the others forming stops against the side of the chamber, a spring, a yoke with which said spring connects, and connections whereby the spring acts to return and hold the retainers to their normal position.

4:. In a baling-press having superposed press and bale chambers, vertically-movable follower, a feed-door at the bottom and a baledischarge door at the top, transverse compression-bolts and centrally-fixed nuts into which the bolts are screwed; plates upon the outer ends of the bolts and turnable links connected therewith, a vertical eccentric-shaft journaled and turnable in said links, and a shouldered lug upon the discharge-door, with which lug the eccentric-shaft engages to lock the door.

5. In a baling-press, a bale-chamber with transverse compression clamping-bolts having plates upon the outer ends, swivel-links pivoted to the plates, a vertical eccentric journaled in the link ends, a door hinged to the bale-chamber and closable contiguous to the eccentric, said door having a shouldered lug, and means for turning the eccentric to engage the lug and lock the door. 1

6. In a balingpress having superposed press and bale chambers, a door hinged at the bottom of the press-chamber and opening outwardly from the top, mechanism by which said door is opened and closed, spring-pressed latches engaging and locking said door, and lever-arms crossing the path of travel of the follower ends and actuated thereby to disengage the latches.

7 In a baling-press having superposed press and bale chambers, a door hinged at the bottom of the press-chamber and opening outwardly from the top, knee-levers having the lower members pivoted to a fixed support and the upper ones to the upper part of the door, chains connected with the central joints of the levers, a horizonally journaled shaft with drums about which the chains wind, another drum fixed to the shaft, apower-chain passing about said drum in an opposite direction from the first-named chains, a sweep and power mechanism, a pulley about which the powerchain winds, and mechanism alternately engaged and released by the sweep to wind and unwind the chain.

8. In a'baling-press, a door hinged at the bottom of the press-chamber and opening outward from the top, and toggle-lever mechanism whereby the door is closed and released,

in combination with a crank-arm fixed to one of the toggle-levers, and a spring fixed in the path of movement of the arm and compressed 3 thereby during the closing action of the door, said spring serving to bend the toggle-joint and thereby facilitate the opening ofsaid door.

9. In a baiing-press, a feed-door hinged at the bottom and opening outward from the top, poner-actuated toggle-levers by which the door is alternatel closed and released, a crank-arm fixed to one of the toggle-levers, a spring disposed in the path of mofinient of the arm and compressed thereby during the closing action of the door, said spring serving to bend the toggle-joint and thereby facilitate the opening of the door, and means for accelerating the opening of the door, said means including a spring fixed at one end, and a bracket upon the door to which the 0pposite end of the spring is attached.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- HOSSCS- WILLIAM H. GRAY. Witnesses:

O. J. LYNCH, A. B. THOMAS. 

